Observation / Reflection #4:Be Quiet! I'm Trying To Talk! In this observation, pay attention to how your teacher manages his or her classroom. What types of disruptions, if any, occur while you're visiting? How do they set the class in motion? How do they deal with interruptions (from the outside) and disruptions (from their students)? Determine whether there are students in the classes that you will teach that are especially troublesome. Ask your CT how he or she addresses these students' needs. Reflect on your "vision" of an ideal science classroom. What classroom policies will you try to implement in YOUR classroom? How does your vision align with your teaching philosophy?
I did this observation in my high school placement because my CT has a very laid back way of teaching. She for the most part ignores a lot of things that I would probably address, mostly the noise level in the class and shouting out answers. She uses kind of a pick your battle type approach. During this observation the main disruptions were, singing, talking, laughing, yelling out answers, like I mentioned before the overall noise level is a little much for me. Just like with a lot of things behavior in classrooms is like a chain reaction and this situation is no different. When one student starts talking the others start, when one student starts laughing everyone wants to know what's so funny, and so on, it's a chain reaction. There was also an outside disruption during her powerpoint presentation where a students came in asking to borrow something for his teacher. She simply walked over got what he needed and handed it to him. It was quick and easy and really caused no disruption. She did at one point address a student that was getting a little more out of hand then the rest and she said " Ok, it's time for you to keep quiet because it's getting rude at this point" to which the student replied "yes Mrs. Bailey". I thought that response showed a significant amount of respect for her as a teacher and he complied with her request for the remainder of the period. I have noticed, especially in this class because it is a big class, that there seem to be a few "ring leaders", but like I mentioned earlier she takes a more pick your battles approach and rarely addresses things unless it's absolutely necessary. During a previous visit she had mention to that she used to be a stricter teacher, very rule oriented etc, but over the years she's eased up quite a bit and for her she feels its a better experience all around. I am not convinced by her statement but it could just be a difference in personalities or maybe it comes down to experience with me being how she was when she first started and for all I know I'll be like her after a few years.
I truely feel there is a middle ground between being a strict teacher and being a very passive teacher. My vision is to one day find that middle ground, where there are times when it is ok to get loud and talk and have a good time, but when I'm giving a powerpoint or instructions there is no talking. I think one of the first things I am going to try to implement when I start my student teaching is just that, when I'm speaking nobody else is. If you have a question or are answering a question you raise your hand. I have no illusions that this will happen immediately but I do have confidence that it will happen, or at least some of it.
I did this observation in my high school placement because my CT has a very laid back way of teaching. She for the most part ignores a lot of things that I would probably address, mostly the noise level in the class and shouting out answers. She uses kind of a pick your battle type approach. During this observation the main disruptions were, singing, talking, laughing, yelling out answers, like I mentioned before the overall noise level is a little much for me. Just like with a lot of things behavior in classrooms is like a chain reaction and this situation is no different. When one student starts talking the others start, when one student starts laughing everyone wants to know what's so funny, and so on, it's a chain reaction. There was also an outside disruption during her powerpoint presentation where a students came in asking to borrow something for his teacher. She simply walked over got what he needed and handed it to him. It was quick and easy and really caused no disruption. She did at one point address a student that was getting a little more out of hand then the rest and she said " Ok, it's time for you to keep quiet because it's getting rude at this point" to which the student replied "yes Mrs. Bailey". I thought that response showed a significant amount of respect for her as a teacher and he complied with her request for the remainder of the period. I have noticed, especially in this class because it is a big class, that there seem to be a few "ring leaders", but like I mentioned earlier she takes a more pick your battles approach and rarely addresses things unless it's absolutely necessary. During a previous visit she had mention to that she used to be a stricter teacher, very rule oriented etc, but over the years she's eased up quite a bit and for her she feels its a better experience all around. I am not convinced by her statement but it could just be a difference in personalities or maybe it comes down to experience with me being how she was when she first started and for all I know I'll be like her after a few years.
I truely feel there is a middle ground between being a strict teacher and being a very passive teacher. My vision is to one day find that middle ground, where there are times when it is ok to get loud and talk and have a good time, but when I'm giving a powerpoint or instructions there is no talking. I think one of the first things I am going to try to implement when I start my student teaching is just that, when I'm speaking nobody else is. If you have a question or are answering a question you raise your hand. I have no illusions that this will happen immediately but I do have confidence that it will happen, or at least some of it.